The Louisburg softball team earned three players on the All-Frontier League team. Juniors Ashley Moreau was a second team selection, while Izzy Moreland and Megan Quinn were named honorable mention.

All-Frontier League softball teams were released last week and three players from Louisburg caught the eye of the area coaches.

Juniors Ashley Moreau, Izzy Moreland and Megan Quinn were selected to the all-league team as they led the Lady Cats to seven wins on the season.

Moreau was named to the second team, while Moreland and Quinn were voted in as honorable mentions.

“I thought we had a good showing for our league,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “It’s a tough league with a lot of great softball players.”

Moreau had a big season with the bat and in the field at shortstop for the Lady Cats. At the plate, she led the team with a .521 average and an OPS of 1.195. She also had 37 hits, 22 runs scored, six extra base hits and 12 RBIs from the leadoff spot.

She also finished with nine stolen bases to go along with solid defense at shortstop.

“Ashley had a fantastic season at that plate,” Chapman said. “I’m pretty sure she lead the league in batting average. She was a giant threat at the plate. She has developed so much as a triple threat hitter. She can lay a bunt down and beat it out, she can slap to gap, or she can stay in and make great contact on the ball and do damage that way. 

“On top of that she is a dangerous base runner. She’s fast and very smart on the bases. She made strides as a shortstop this season, always working to get better. I’m proud of the season she had.”

Moreland earned all-league honorable mention honors for the second consecutive season as an infielder. She was second on the team with a .450 average and an OPS of 1.043.

She added 27 hits, three doubles, a home run and had 17 RBIs. She also scored 16 runs and struck out just six times on the season. As a third baseman and pitcher, Moreland had just four errors on the season.

As for Quinn, she earned her first all-league selection after a strong performance at the plate. She had a .393 average to go along with a 1.171 OPS.

Quinn had 24 hits on the year to go along with six doubles and a team-high five home runs. She also finished with 17 RBIs and struck out just five times.

She committed just five errors in 21 games with her work mainly at first base and pitcher.

“Megan and Izzy had great seasons as well,” Chapman said. “Both are able to hit the ball all over the field and racked up a lot of RBIs between the two of them. Both made very little errors in the field and were solid infielders. I’m proud of the growth they made this season.”

ALL-FRONTIER LEAGUE SOFTBALL

FIRST TEAM

CATCHER: Ellie Seaton, senior, Ottawa

PITCHER: Sam Claire, sophomore, Eudora; Brielle Dee, senior, Spring Hill

INFIELD: Karly Toot, senior, Baldwin; Mariah Herrera, junior, Tonganoxie; Mya January, junior, Spring Hill; Chevy Seaton, junior, Ottawa

OUTFIELD: Allee Darnell, junior, Baldwin; Lexi Born, sophomore, Eudora; Abby Clarkson, junior, Tonganoxie

DH/UTILITY: Wren VanCleave, senior, Bonner Springs

SECOND TEAM

CATCHER: Teelie Super, senior, Bonner Springs

PITCHER: Addison Hassett, junior, Bonner Springs; Addison White, sophomore, Ottawa

INFIELD: Jaiden Burris, sophomore, Eudora; Ashley Moreau, junior, Louisburg; Kenzie Yoder, junior, Eudora; Brooklyn Hadl, senior Ottawa

OUTFIELD: Marissa January, junior, Spring Hill; Blaire Sommer, junior, Spring Hill; Kennison Walters, senior, Ottawa

DH/UTILITY: Emma Reeves, sophomore, Spring Hill

HONORABLE MENTION

CATCHER: Ava Kehl, senior, Paola; Delaney Hill, senior, Spring Hill; Santiana Garcia, junior, Tonganoxie

PITCHER: Sage Isaacs, junior, Tonganoxie; Rylee Griffin, junior, Eudora; Jacie Collier, senior, Paola

INFIELD: Emma Lara, sophomore, Bonner Springs; Mattie Newson, senior, Bonner Springs; Megan Quinn, junior, Louisburg; Izzy Moreland, junior, Louisburg; Kamden Evans, junior, Ottawa; Elli Smail, freshman, Paola; Nora Burrell, sophomore, Spring Hill; Farrah Halsa, freshman, Tonganoxie; Savannah Booker, senior, Tonganoxie; Olivia Freely, freshman, Spring Hill

OUTFIELD: Autumn Ashford, junior, Bonner Springs; Krislyn Hadlock, sophomore, Paola; Kylie Vandervoort, senior, Tonganoxie

DH/UTILITY: Katie Courter, sophomore, Eudora; Jordyn Vorbeck, junior, Tonganoxie

Louisburg junior Megan Quinn led the Lady Cats with 3 RBIs in their 7-6 loss Tuesday to Ottawa in the Class 4A regional semifinals.

OTTAWA — Halfway through its regional semifinal game with Ottawa, the Louisburg softball team was right where it wanted to be.

The Lady Cats, the No. 13 seed, had a five run lead on No. 4 Ottawa and they were primed for an upset. However, Louisburg couldn’t quite pull off the victory.

Ottawa scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to get the 7-6 walkoff win over Louisburg at Orlis Cox Sports Complex in Ottawa.

“We started the game the way we needed to in order to give ourselves a chance to win,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “Ottawa is always a solid, fundamental team. Throughout the whole lineup, we executed so many things really well. Girls were not only laying bunts down when they were called, but placed them perfectly in order for the defense to have to make a play. 

“Our base-running caused chaos for them. We had girls hit the ball hard. Our pitching was on point and our defense was perfect for about five or six innings. We played really solid softball for most of the game. We made a couple errors at the wrong time.”

The Lady Cats jumped out to a big lead as they scored a pair of runs in the first inning. Junior Ashley Moreau scored on a steal of home to start the game and then Megan Quinn singled home Jenna Cauthon to make it a 2-0 contest.

Louisburg added two more runs in the third to make it a 4-0 game when Moreau scored on an Ottawa error, then Cauthon scored on a sacrifice by Quinn.

Olivia Fercho crossed home plate in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Rylee Hickey to give the Lady Cats a 5-0 lead in the top of the fourth.

Ottawa started to chip away at the lead with two runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and another in the sixth to tie the game.

Louisburg took the lead right back in the top of the seventh. The Lady Cats had the bases loaded, and Quinn hit a sacrifice fly to score Moreau and the Lady Cats found themselves three outs away from a regional championship appearance.

“Right before we went to hit in the top of seventh, you could tell the girls were ready for the challenge,” Chapman said. “We got bases loaded quickly and were able to scratch one run with sac fly, but just couldn’t finish getting the others home. Ottawa threw a girl who slowed it down on us, and that has kind of been our weak spot — being able to adjust, sit back and wait on it to barrel up a ball.”

Ottawa led off the seventh with a triple by Brooklyn Hadl and scored on a single from the next batter. With one out, and runners on first and second, Ottawa hit a hard ground ball and the runner from third was able to score to seal the win for the Cyclones.

Moreau finished with three hits to lead the Lady Cat bats and also scored three times. Quinn had a team-high 3 RBIs, while junior Izzy Moreland had a pair of hits, including a double.

Moreland started the game for Louisburg and allowed three earned runs in five innings and struck out two.

The Lady Cats ended their season with a 7-14 record, but it was one that saw several positives despite their ups and downs.

“The girls wanted this one and you could see it on their face afterwards,” Chapman said. “I think as a softball culture, with club ball and all that, the emotions of losing a ball game are rarely there because there’s always ‘another game.’ For us, it hurt. That one was tough because you could tell how badly the girls wanted that game, especially with how we started. 

“As tough as this one was to swallow, this loss gave our program hope because of how we played. We showed what we are capable of doing. We have a lot of potential and when we play up to it, these girls are capable of great things on the diamond. I’m excited for what is in store for Louisburg softball.”

Members of the Louisburg softball team surround junior Izzy Moreland at home plate after she hit a 2-run walk-off home run last Tuesday against Paola. Moreland also pitched a complete game with 11 strikeouts.

Through seven innings, Louisburg junior Izzy Moreland put together her best pitching performance of the season last Tuesday against Paola.

Moreland had just completed seven innings and gave up just one run to the Panthers as she struck out 11. Despite that, the Lady Cats were still down a run with three outs remaining.

As it turned out, Moreland had a pretty good day with the bat as well.

After Addy Stohs singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh, Moreland hit a 2-run walk-off home run to give the Lady Cats a 2-1 victory over the Panthers and end a 3-game losing streak in the process.

Inclement weather prevented the two teams from finishing the doubleheader last Tuesday, but the second game was played Friday and Paola got the split as it handed Louisburg a 3-1 setback.

The Lady Cats finished their season with a 7-13 record as they enter the Class 4A regional tournament as the No. 13 seed.

Moreland recorded her best all-around performance of the season on the mound as she gave up just the one run in the third inning, and Paola held on to that lead until the bottom of the seventh.

With Stohs on first, Moreland hit a high fly ball to right field that hit the top of the fence and bounced over. That sent her teammates running out of the dugout to meet her at home plate.

Prior to that inning, the Lady Cats had trouble getting anything going as they had just three hits up until that point. Those came on singles from Moreland, Megan Quinn and Ashley Moreau.

Louisburg’s makeup contest was very similar to the opener as it was a low-scoring affair. Paola got two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead.

The Lady Cats scratched a run across in the sixth when freshman Delaney Nelsen scored after Moreland grounded out on a fielder’s choice. However, that was the only run the Lady Cats would get.

Louisburg had five hits, including two from Nelsen and a double from Moreau. Moreland and Brynley Bauer each had singles.

Ultimately, it was the mistakes that hurt the Lady Cats as they committed five errors and all three Paola runs were unearned.

Quinn started the game for Louisburg as she gave up four hits in four innings and struck out four. Moreland pitched the final three innings and had a pair of strikeouts.

Louisburg will now begin postseason play today as the Lady Cats square off with No. 4 Ottawa at 4:30 p.m. at the Orlis Cox complex in Ottawa. The winner of that game will play the winner of Holton/Rock Creek for the championship later in the day.

Louisburg catcher Rylee Hickey tags out a Eudora player sliding into home Tuesday at Eudora High School. The Lady Cats fell to Anderson County and Eudora after winning three straight games.

EUDORA — After rattling off three straight wins, the Louisburg softball team has gone through a couple rough patches.

Most recently, the Lady Cats faced off Eudora in a single game last Tuesday and left with a 12-1 loss against a Cardinal team that is one of the top teams in the Frontier League.

On April 27, Louisburg hosted Anderson County for a doubleheader and lost a pair of 5-3 and 8-4 contests.

“Although we lost, we did have some positives against Anderson County,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “Our defense was better as we only made two errors all night long. We also have girls that are still consistently hitting the ball hard and making things happen.”

Against Anderson County, the Lady Cats got a good performance from starter Megan Quinn as she pitched a compete game. She gave up three earned runs and struck out seven.

Louisburg (6-12) had a 3-2 lead going into the sixth inning, but Anderson County scraped across a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to steal the win from the Lady Cats.

Quinn led the Lady Cat bats with three hits, including a double, while sophomore Katie McKain had a pair of RBIs. Junior Jenna Cauthon added two hits and an RBI, while Addy Stohs and Rylee Hickey each had a double.

“Jenna, Ashley (Moreau) and Megan are all finding ways on base and hitting the ball well,” Chapman said. “Addy is hitting the ball hard and doing a great job in the field. I’ve asked her to move around a little bit and she’s accepted that and done a great job.”

In the second game, Anderson County jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third inning and never let the Lady Cats in the game. The Bulldogs used their power as they connected on three home runs to pull away.

Junior Izzy Moreland started for the Wildcats, but worked around some rough patches as she was able to strike out 12 in five innings of work.

Quinn had another multi-hit performance with two hits, while Stohs, Moreland and Delaney Nelsen had RBIs for Louisburg. The Lady Cats made thing interesting with three runs in the sixth, but could get no closer.

Against Eudora, the Cardinals took a big lead on Louisburg from the first inning on and never let up. Eudora scored five runs in the first, one in the second, four in the third and two in the fourth.

Quinn, Stohs, Moreland and Moreau all had hits for Louisburg, while freshman Shyloh Waite had the team’s lone RBI. 

Louisburg will try and end the regular season on a good note as the Lady Cats host Paola on Tuesday for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. at Lewis-Young Park.

Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week five of the spring sports season, sponsored by Edward Jones-Craig Holtzen.

MEGAN QUINN, JUNIOR, SOFTBALL

Louisburg junior Megan Quinn has been causing opposing pitchers fits the last couple weeks — last week in particular. During a quad at McPherson and a home doubleheader against Osawatomie, Quinn accounted for three home runs and 10 RBIs during that four game stretch. She also found success on the mound with nine strikeouts in two games.

Quinn is in rarified air as far as Louisburg softball goes. After last week, Quinn has now homered in five of her last six contests and is one of the few — if any — in school history to achieve the feat. She is currently hitting .364 on the season with 16 hits, four doubles, five home runs and 14 RBIs.

The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the spring season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.

Previous winners:

Week 1: Rowan Yows

Week 2: Sabra Brueggen

Week 3: Danny Napier

Week 4: Corbin Hamman

Louisburg junior Megan Quinn homered three times last week as the Lady Cats earned three victories, including a doubleheader sweep Thursday against Osawatomie.

The bats came alive for the Louisburg softball team last week and it turned into three wins in four games for the Lady Cats. 

After earning a split at the McPherson Quad last Tuesday, the Lady Cats hosted Osawatomie in a doubleheader Thursday. Louisburg scored 29 runs in the two games and came away with 16-5 and 13-1 victories over the Trojans at Lewis-Young Park.

In the last four games total, the Lady Cats have scored 49 runs, and in the process, improved their record to 6-9 on the season.

“Our bats are finally poppin,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “A couple weeks ago, we went back to the fundamentals of hitting; getting lots of tee work in and breaking down our swings. I’m glad we did that because it’s starting to pay off at the plate.

“We are hitting like I know we are capable of hitting. We are making consistent solid contact but also doing some great small things as well. Even against McPherson, we did some great things offensively against a couple decent pitchers.”

No bat has been hotter than junior Megan Quinn.

Quinn recorded three home runs on the week and has homered in five of the last six games. In her four contests this week, she had six hits and 10 RBIs, including a home run against Osawatomie and two home runs in the McPherson Quad.

“Megan is on a tear right now,” Chapman said. “I don’t know how many girls have hit 5 home runs in a single season (at Louisburg), let alone in six games. Again, Megan is going back to the basics and making some great adjustments at the plate. She’s sitting back and finding her pitch and just dominating at the plate right now. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

In the first game against Osawatomie, the Trojans actually jumped out to a 4-0 after two innings thanks to a couple Louisburg miscues. The Lady Cats quickly rebounded.

Louisburg scored seven runs in both the third and fourth innings to take a 14-2 lead and it was all starter Izzy Moreland needed. Moreland got the complete game victory as she gave up just two earned runs and had seven strikeouts.

Moreland also led the Lady Cats with the bat as she tallied three hits, including a double, and scored two runs. Louisburg had six extra base hits as a team.

Sophomore Brynley Bauer had three hits, including a double, and 2 RBIs. Junior Ashley Moreau and sophomore Katie McKain each had a pair of hits, including a double and 3 RBIs each. 

Quinn had two hits, doubled and drove home two runs. Junior Jenna Cauthon did much of the same as she tallied two hits with a double and an RBI.

Sophomore Addy Stohs had a pair of hits and an RBI and freshman Delaney Nelsen also had a run-scoring single. 

Louisburg had a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning of the nightcap and used one big inning to pull away. The Lady Cats scored 11 runs in the fourth to seal the win.

Quinn got the complete game victory as she didn’t allow an earned run and struck out four batters. She also helped herself with her bat with a solo home run.

McKain led the Louisburg bats with three hits and 2 RBIs. Moreau, freshman Shyloh Waite and junior Rylee Hickey, who was in her first game back from injury, also had two hits.

Cauthon had an RBI double for the Lady Cats and Moreland also drove in a run for Louisburg.

“Overall, we had a great offensive night against Osawatomie,” Chapman said. “Once we got going at the plate, we didn’t stop. Ashley is still on a tear at the plate. Izzy, Jenna, Addy are all hitting the ball really well. Katie and Brynley had a fantastic night as they started finding solid contact and hitting into some gaps to get some runners in. We finally got Rylee back. She caught our second game. She came in and did some awesome things behind the plate. I’m so glad to have her back. 

“I told our girls to start the night that we need to be playing our best softball down this last stretch of games. Offensively, I think that was one of our better nights. If we can get our defense to match our offensive explosiveness, we will be tough to beat.”

Louisburg is back in action Thursday when the Lady Cats host Anderson County for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.

Louisburg splits at McPherson Quad

Louisburg ventured outside of Frontier League play and the Lady Cats made the drive down to McPherson to compete in a quad.

Although the Lady Cats lost their first game to the Bullpups, 16-6, they were able to salvage the day with a a 14-3 win over Emporia.

“The only thing I didn’t like about the McPherson tourney is that it was 3 hours away,” Chapman said “I thought it was fun though. It is definitely nice to see some different teams. We saw McPherson, who is a really solid 4A team. They lost to 6A Derby in the championship, who is one of the top teams in 6A. Then we got to see Emporia in our second game. It was good to go down there and walk away with at least one win.”

Against Emporia, Megan Quinn led the Lady Cat bats with a pair of hits of 4 RBIs — three of which came on a home run in the fifth inning that ended the contest.

Louisburg scored seven runs in the first two innings and then put the game on ice with a six-run fifth.

Izzy Moreland and Brynley Bauer each had two hits and 2 RBIs to help the Lady Cat cause and Delaney Nelsen drove home a pair of runs. Ashley Moreau and Addy Stohs also finished with two hits.

Moreland started the game for Louisburg and got the win as she gave up just two earned runs and had six strikeouts.

McPherson got to the Lady Cats early as the Bullpups took a 7-1 lead after one inning and were able to pull away from there.

Quinn hit a 3-run home run in the fifth inning, while Stohs had three hits — including a pair of doubles, to lead the Lady Cat bats. Moreland and Moreau also had two hits each.

Louisburg boys basketball coach Ty Pfannenstiel will take over the school’s activities director role next school year. He also resigned his basketball position after coaching the Wildcats for the last six years.

Beginning next school year, Louisburg High School activities will have a little different look to it — especially at the top.

Ty Pfannenstiel will serve as the school’s new activities director and will take over for current AD, Michael Pickman, who will focus on his assistant principal duties and curriculum. 

Pfannenstiel, who has been the boys basketball coach for the last six years, resigned his post to take on the activities director position. He also stepped down as an assistant football coach.

Currently the weight room instructor, Pfannenstiel will spend half his day teaching and the other half in the AD role.

All of the moves were approved during Monday’s meeting of the USD 416 Board of Education.

“This is very exciting for me,” Pfannenstiel said. “It’s definitely going to be a change. I have been a teacher and a coach for 18 years. I still get to be a teacher half-time, and now I get to step into a new role as an administrator. It is going to be all sports and activities and I am looking forward to the new direction.”

As for Pickman, he gets the opportunity to focus more on the academic side as a full-time assistant principal. He was hired as an assistant principal/ activities director in April of 2020.

“I am very excited to commit more fully to the assistant principal role as education and curriculum have always been my true passion,” Pickman said. “Being able to support the teachers, students, and administrative staff by providing data, feedback, and assessing teaching and learning goals and initiatives in the building and district aligns with that passion and the opportunity arose to allow for that. I hope to enable and promote continued growth in the various curriculums and initiatives and structures that make Louisburg a fantastic district in a supportive community.

“Ty has experience and is passionate about athletics and activities. As it is where his passion is, I have every confidence he will do a fantastic job in his new role and look forward to witnessing where he takes our programs moving forward.”

Pickman took over LHS activities at a difficult time as the school was coming back from COVID-19 and the all challenges it presented. As tough as that situation was, he appreciated the relationships he built.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as activities director and was presented a fantastic growth opportunity and am grateful for being given it,” Pickman said. “I had a goal of being present for athletes and coaches and for the patrons, so I hope people saw that presence. I was blessed to have great leadership in place in our coaches and sponsors, and tried to support them best by advocating for their needs and supporting them to do their job of being great role models and passing on their passion and knowledge to students.

“Ultimately, I am most proud of our student athletes and activity participants and being part of their journey. I believe that sports are an extension of the classroom and I wanted to help ensure that character and sportsmanship were just as important and success, and I am overjoyed to have a wealth of memories where our fans, students, participants, and coaches and sponsors proved that to be true of LHS.”

While taking on the challenge of being a new administrator is one he is looking forward to, leaving his coaching roots behind was a difficult decision for Pfannenstiel.

In 2021, Pfannenstiel led the Wildcat boys basketball team to the Class 4A state championship game and finished as the state runner-up.

“That was definitely the biggest thing that was holding me back,” Pfannenstiel said. “I love basketball and the kids that I have worked with. There is a group coming up that I really enjoy coaching, and leaving that behind was one of the biggest challenges for me. Whoever takes over the program, I think it will be good transition for them because they will have a great group of kids to work with.

“Originally, I was going to be allowed to coach a sport and they didn’t want to take coaching away from me. The more I thought about it, if I want to do a good job at this, I need to focus on being the AD and that will be something that will benefit me and all the other activities.”

Pfannenstiel believes the move is a good one for the school in general as it will allow Pickman and principal Amy VanRheen to focus more on the academic side of things.

“This is something that is definitely needed,” Pfannenstiel said. “Our administrators are so busy with all the stuff they do during the school day, but they are also going to all the activities as well. Hopefully this will be a big help for Mrs. VanRheen and Mr. Pickman.”

Although he won’t official start his new position till next school year, Pfannenstiel is already starting to transition into his new role — one that is looking forward to.

“My job in the weight room and coaching has all been about sports,” he said. “That is what entices me about this job is that I am still going to be all about sports and activities. I just want to be a support for our coaches and our athletes and be advocate for our students.” 

Louisburg junior Megan Quinn makes contact with a pitch last week. Quinn finished with two home runs last week against Tonganoxie and Bonner Springs.

It may have not ended its week with a win, but it wasn’t all doom and gloom — in fact it was quite the opposite.

The Lady Cats took away several positives from their contests against Bonner Springs, and most recently, Tonganoxie.

On Thursday at Lewis-Young Park, the Lady Cats put together one of their better games of the season against one of the top teams in the Frontier League. Louisburg stayed within striking distance, but came up just short in a 6-4 loss to the Chieftains

“Tongie is a great team,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “Going into this game, we knew that they had beaten some good teams early like Spring Hill. We played about as well as we have. We just needed to be more consistent at the plate. I think right now we are one or two plays away from being a great team and playing to our potential.”

Louisburg (3-8) found itself down, 3-0, to Tonganoxie (5-1) after one inning, but the Lady Cat offense kept chipping away.

Junior Megan Quinn got the offense kick started with a solo home run in the bottom of the second — her second long ball in as many games.

Tonganoxie scored two more in the third to make it a 5-1 advantage, but the Lady Cats answered right back. Junior Jenna Cauthon singled home Katie McKain and Ashley Moreau to keep the deficit at two runs.

Sophomore Brynley Bauer trimmed the Tonganoxie lead to one in the sixth on an RBI single that scored Addy Stohs. However, the Chieftains tacked on a run in the seventh and the Lady Cats could get no closer.

Izzy Moreland got the start for Louisburg and kept the Lady Cats in it as she pitched six innings and struck out three. Quinn came on in relief in the final inning and struck out a batter.

Offensively, the Lady Cats are starting to find a groove at the plate. Moreau, the team’s leadoff hitter, has a .550 average on the season.

Moreland, Cauthon and Quinn are also all batting over .300 through 11 games and have all tallied big hits throughout the year.

Louisburg hopes to continue its improvement tomorrow as the Lady Cats travel to McPherson for a quad. The Lady Cats will square off with the host school first at 4 p.m. and then will either play Derby or Emporia in their next game.

Lady Cats fall in doubleheader to Bonner Springs

The Louisburg softball team showed fight last Tuesday in its home doubleheader against Bonner Springs, but lost a pair of games to the Braves, 7-2 and 12-8.

The Lady Cats couldn’t keep the Braves’ offense down as they combined in the 19 runs and 26 hits in the two games.

In the first game, Bonner Springs scored five runs in the third inning to take the early lead and it was all the Braves needed.

Ashley Moreau led Louisburg with a pair of hits and a run scored and Izzy Moreland had the team’s lone RBI. Jenna Cauthon, Megan Quinn and Katie McKain also had hits for the Lady Cats.

In the nightcap, Bonner Springs took an 11-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Lady Cats didn’t give up. Louisburg scored four runs in the sixth and another in the seventh, but fell short.

“We are executing more and more on defense,” Chapman said. “We ran into a good team that hit the ball really well consistently. We were not as consistent at the plate. I thought we hit well, but just started a little too late. I’m proud of how we came back in the second game down eight and we worked back to get it close.”

Moreau had two hits, including a double, to lead the Louisburg bats. Freshman Delaney Nelsen finished with a team-high 2 RBIs and a double.

Quinn hit solo home run late and Moreland also had an RBI single. McKain and freshman Shyloh Waite also had hits for Louisburg.

Louisburg sophomore Addy Stohs makes contact with a pitch during a game earlier this season. The Lady Cats scored 20 runs in Thursday’s doubleheader sweep of Wellsville.

WELLSVILLE — It had been a rough start to the season for the Louisburg softball team as the Lady Cats lost five of their first six games.

All that took a turn for the better Thursday when Louisburg traveled to Wellsville for a doubleheader. The Lady Cats pounded out 20 runs and left with a pair of 15-3 and 5-2 victories over the Eagles.

It was the kind of outing the whole team was waiting for as the Lady Cats were able to get back on the winning track.

“We needed to have a good night against Wellsville and we definitely did,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “We adjusted some things at practice, the girls wanted to get better, and we did just that. I’m so proud of our girls and how they responded to some early adversity this season. We came out strong, played great team softball and got the job done last night.”

In the opener, Louisburg (3-5) found itself in a close game through three innings as the Lady Cats held a 5-3 lead going into the top of the fourth. It was there where the Lady Cats broke the game open.

They scored six runs in the fourth, and four in the fifth, to complete the run-rule victory.

Junior Ashley Moreau had a nice showing for Louisburg in that opening game as she went 4-for-4 with 3 RBIs, including a pair of doubles. Junior Jenna Cauthon and sophomore Addy Stohs also had 3 RBIs and a pair of hits.

Another junior, Izzy Moreland, finished with three hits, three runs scored and 2 RBIs. Freshman Delaney Nelsen had two hits and a run batted in. 

Sophomores Brynley Bauer and Katie McKain, along with freshman Shyloh Waite, also drove home a run. 

Junior pitcher Megan Quinn got the start and held Wellsville to just one earned run over four innings and picked up the win.

“Ashley had a fantastic night,” Chapman said. “She hit the ball hard and found gaps in their defense. She was also aggressive on the bases. She was fun to watch. But we also had several girls step up at the plate. 

“As a team, we finally hit the ball hard and found gaps. Addy, Jenna, and Izzy got their bats going as well. They all hit the ball hard and found gaps in the defense. Delaney and Shyloh played some great small ball. Katie and Brynley had a couple solid hits as well. Just overall, a great night at the plate and on the bases for us.”

Runs weren’t as plentiful in the nightcap for Louisburg and the Lady Cats found themselves down 2-0 going into the fourth inning. The Lady Cats were able to claw their way back.

Louisburg tied the game with two runs in the fourth and then took the lead with a run in the fifth. The Lady Cats added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth.

Moreau, Quinn, Stohs and Bauer all had two hits to lead the Lady Cat bats, while Moreau, Moreland, Bauer and Waite each had a run batted in. 

Moreland started the game on the mound for Louisburg and went four innings and gave up just one earned run. Quinn came in and pitched the final three innings and allowed four hits and no runs.

“It took us a little bit to get refocused in Game 2,” Chapman said. “We made a couple errors that allowed two runs to score, but we responded with some momentum changing plays that got us going. Izzy got out of a bases loaded situation only allowing only one run. Delaney, behind the plate, threw a girl out stealing for her first time. Shyloh made a huge play, throwing a girl out from center. 

“We pushed through a couple bad plays and created momentum for ourselves and eventually got going in the fourth inning. I’m proud of how we responded to adversity and worked as a team to get the job done.”

Louisburg will try and add to its win total tonight as the Lady Cats host Bonner Springs for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. at Lewis-Young Park.

Lady Cats fall in doubleheader to Spring Hill

Louisburg went up against one of the top teams in the Frontier League last Tuesday as the Lady Cats traveled to Spring Hill.

The Broncos got the best of the Lady Cats from the opening pitch as they defeated Louisburg 17-0 in game one and 16-2 in the nightcap.

Katie McKain had the lone hit for Louisburg in the opener. Ashley Moreau and Jenna Cauthon each had two hits in the second game and Cauthon had both of the team’s RBIs.

Louisburg junior Olivia Fercho makes contact with a pitch Thursday during the Lady Cats’ home opener against Ottawa.

It wasn’t the outing the Louisburg softball team had hoped for in its home opener Thursday against Ottawa.

Louisburg couldn’t keep up with the Cyclones in a pair of 14-6 and 9-1 losses at Lewis-Young Park. Still, despite trailing in both games, the Lady Cats played hard to the end.

“We never gave up,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “We had a chance in the first game to make a huge comeback. Our bats finally got hot in the sixth and seventh innings. We just gave them too much to start the game.”

In the first game, Ottawa started with five runs in the top of the second and eventually took a 10-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning. The Lady Cats avoided the run rule when junior Ashley Moreau singled home Shyloh Waite for the team’s first run.

Louisburg added four more runs in the sixth inning when Megan Quinn doubled home Izzy Moreland and Jenna Cauthon. Sophomore Katie McKain singled home Quinn and then scored on an RBI single by Waite to make it an 11-5 game.

Ottawa added three more runs in the seventh inning to all but seal the win for the Cyclones.

Cauthon, Moreland, Quinn and Waite each had two hits to lead the Lady Cat offense. Quinn’s 2-run double was the lone extra base hit for Louisburg.

In the nightcap, the Lady Cats struck first as they took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Moreau tripled and scored on a sacrifice by freshman Delaney Nelsen. 

Moreland started the game on the mound for the Lady Cats and didn’t allow a run till the fourth inning when Ottawa scored three in the frame. She also struck out three.

Quinn pitched the rest of the way for Louisburg and gave up just one earned run, but the Lady Cats committed six errors that hurt them down the stretch.

As a team, the Lady Cats had just four hits in the nightcap and Moreau had three of those as she scored the team’s lone run.

Louisburg will try and rebound today as it travels to Spring Hill for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.

“We are going to get back to work at practice and get some things cleaned up and take on a very good Spring Hill, where we are going to have to play clean softball to beat them,” Chapman said. “I think we are very capable of doing that. We just have to do it.”